FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - A judge on Tuesday ordered a man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Rockwell City police officer in September to undergo a psychiatric competency evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
District Court Judge Thomas Bice ordered the proceedings in the trial of Corey Trott, 32, to be suspended until it is determined whether he can stand trial.
“The bottom line is they have to determine he either is or is not competent to stand trial and if he’s not then they’re supposed to restore him to competency,” Joseph McCarville, one of Trott’s public defense attorneys, told The Associated Press.
That means after medication and other treatment Trott’s mental state must be reevaluated to determine whether he appreciates the charge against him, understands the proceedings, and can assist effectively his defense.
Trott, of Rockwell City, will be taken to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Oakdale for the evaluation.
The psychiatric hospital at Oakdale has been ordered to file a written report within 10 days of Trott’s evaluation. If Trott is determined to be incompetent, progress reports will be made to the court every 30 days.
The judge held a hearing in Fort Dodge and issued the ruling after reading a psychological report and hearing arguments from Trott’s defense attorneys.
In his ruling, Bice wrote that he found probable cause that Trott is suffering from a mental disorder.
Calhoun County Attorney Tina Meth-Farrington said the ruling effectively puts the case on hold. However, Trott’s April 21 trial, which will be held in Wright County, will remain on the court schedule, she told the Fort Dodge Messenger.
“We’re still keeping it on the calendar and hoping the evaluation can be done quickly, and we can get this issue resolved,” she said. “We also realize that we are not in control of Oakdale.”
Trott has been in custody since Sept. 13, 2013, when he allegedly shot and killed Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting during a standoff in Rockwell City.
Police had a warrant for Trott’s arrest on an assault charge. He was reported at a home in Rockwell City and police responded with a tactical team to take him into custody. He refused to come out of the house and is accused of firing a shot that struck Buenting. The 12-year veteran police officer later died at a Lake City hospital.
Trott surrendered to law enforcement early the following morning.
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Information from: The Messenger, https://www.messengernews.net
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